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Saturday, January 7, 2012

Boys & Jane Austen - Among Other Sundries

Boys & Jane Austen

Among Other Sundries

“Oh, have you really read that book, too?” This was the
exclamation of a circle of bright-eyed young ladies standing in the narthex of
a church. They were looking incredulously, yet with good humor, at the young
man - a visitor to the church who had been invited into the circle. He was
doing his best to join in their conversation. All it took was one concisely
phrased comment to reveal his knowledge of Mr. Collins. The opinion he shared
probably would never have passed the lips of a female - even if it were true.
“Mr. Collins was pompous, yes, but he wasn’t all that bad.”
(A true story.)

Here is a list of some of the fiction my son, Nigel, read in
high school and after. I took a recent photograph of him for this post on a day
when he was dressed smartly for church. Notice the book title at the end of the
list. It was his choice to read Pride and Prejudice after the British film series and book drew so much
of his sisters’ and his sisters’ girlfriends’ attentions. He was curious to
understand life from the puzzling female point of view.

When I opened Peter Leithart’s book, Miniatures and Morals – the Christian novels of Jane Austen,
I was tickled to find his first chapter to be “Real Men Read Austen.” Mr.
Leithart believes that Miss Austen’s novels are highly instructive for men. The
value of her novels is not just for the opportunity is seeing love through her
perceptive feminine eyes. Her stories uphold a man’s responsibility for “the
course the courtship takes.” Toying with the affections of a woman, encouraging
her to fall in love without a commitment in view, makes a man into an
egotistical scoundrel. These men add to the antagonism in her stories. Miss
Austen thankfully provides us with examples of honorable men – protagonists -
that our sons can esteem and emulate.

Reading Miniatures and Morals has been contributing to my Mother Culture. A friend using it with her
four daughters, recommended it to me. A close look at several of Jane Austen’s
novels would certainly compliment a beautiful girlhood and help a young lady
wisely distinguish between a Frank Churchill and a George Knightly.

A maiden may dream of wearing a Regency gown and meeting a
Mr. Knightly but Miss Austen’s stories are far too witty to be equated with a
shallow or overly sentimental romance novel. What she conveys through her
characters is sometimes profound and at other times comical. Peter J.
Leithart’s insights on all six novels light a candle to Miss Austen’s
Christian ethics. She writes about her world close up, in miniature and
“recognizes that the greatest ethical challenges come in the midst of daily
life.” This is precisely when Christian morals, manners and discernment are
needed – and how we love our neighbor properly – in a variety of settings.

“She taught me to knit, which has been a great amusement.” –
Mrs. Smith in Persuasion.

During our road travel in December I spotted “Jane Austen Knits” while browsing a magazine rack at one of our stops. Fond of knitting and
fond of Jane Austen its cover caught my eye with the utmost swiftness. Back on
the highway I read the interview of Jennie Chancey of the Sense &
Sensibility pattern company as a first treat. Another interesting article gives
some history of domestic life in Georgian England when “everyone but
the very wealthy spun wool yarn and knitted.” All the articles have an
intelligent and friendly touch to them.

I can’t imagine what I would wear with the purple “short
stay” or on what occasion I would wear it. This vest has been the source this
knitter’s daydreaming of late. I remind myself that anything pretty - though
out-of-fashion it may be - can be worn at home. Perhaps it could be worn while gardening, under a protective
apron, on a cool spring morning. It is a small enough project to be completed
by spring, surely. And purple yarn would match the lilac buds in our back yard
in spring . . . Do you ever day-dream while washing dishes, contemplating a
project for weeks, a sort of warm-up to attempting it?

The “Lydia Military Spencer” is a jacket with decidedly
out-of-fashion puff sleeves. But it is charming – and I like puff sleeves. It
is in the majority of challenging patterns.

The projects are pretty. The word “pretty” says much. It
means that the projects are a refreshingly feminine upgrade from today’s
gender-neutral garments. They range from simple to startlingly complicated.
You’ll find lacey shawls, fingerless mitts, capes, drawstring bags and
stockings. I’ve knit an Aran sweater for a male member of my family but none
near as complicated as the handsome one given. The Celtic cable on my
soft-as-a-cloud angora rabbit scarf is the most complicated I’ve yet to attempt
- from a different pattern book. A
beginner would find inspiration inside “Jane Austen Knits” while she kept most
of the 35 projects on hand for a time when her skill was developed.
(janeautstenknits.com)

Over the holidays I began filling in the maiden on the chair
pad while sitting in the parlor. I like the tweedy wool strips provided for the sheep. My loops are not
aligned in neat rows as those shown in the kit. Mine are hooked higgly-piggly.
I also tend to fill in the burlap a too snugly. But I’m enjoying this
beginner’s project and am pleased with it regardless of how higgly-piggly the
loops are turning out to be.

The reproduction friendship sampler is framed. It hangs on a
narrow piece of wall in the front parlor - not as crookedly as my photograph. It fits nicely in this narrow corner.

As it is often viewed through the open French doors I might move it upstairs. We’ll
see. Domestic decisions are perplexing on those days when a homemaker takes
domesticity rather seriously. But there is also something thrilling about the
outcome of the details that make homemade touches worth the effort. Do you find
this to be true?

Have you received a January seed catalog in the mail yet? To
plant seeds in a raised bed of rich soil using your mouse, click the image of
Nigel’s Magic Garden. Water them and watch them grow. Then rearrange your
flowers and vegetables as you like. The latest flash plug-in is required.

24 comments:

Oh, where to start? I loved this post. I am very appreciative of your review of the Jane Austin Knits magazine. That sounds like something I would very much enjoy owning, and I will be on the search for my own copy immediately! Second, I just love the hooking project you are working on. Karen, it makes me want to try a project like that also. I already have so many hobbies and interests I pursue (knitting, sewing and embroidery) but I do not think adding another needlework skill to my repertorie would hurt at all, do you?Finally, many many thanks to Nigel for the fun garden! That is just genius and so pretty and fun and happy! Nigel is a handsome young man and the photograph is such a nice one. I enjoyed seeing his book list also, and I plan to use some of those listed as recommendations for my own nephew, who is in junior high school.Oh and yes, Karen, I too oftenr spend many hours contemplating new projects before I actually begin them - thinking of various color combinations, how the project will be worn and by whom, or where it will fit into our home. Those hours of dreaming are indeed a big part of the joy handwork brings. Thank you for sharing your own joy with us.

Wonderful post. I enjoy contemplating projects, too . . . it's just that I find I want to try so many things and I must choose carefully or I'll have a dozen started at once!Do you ever do that? In any case, I love handmade things - they show an investment in time, care and love.

I have to confess that I often find myself daydreaming of projects, and, like Natalie, I, too, have to be careful to not take on too many. Just the place I find myself as the new year begins to unfold. One goal I've set for myself this year is to finish my many projects before starting new ones -- Lord willing, I'll stick to it and be successful!

Karen, I gave my daughter-in-law the same knitting magazine for Christmas this year! It really does present some lovely projects. I was tempted to purchase a copy for myself, but as I already shared, no starting new projects for now...

Thanks for sharing your stitching and knitting projects as well as your son's reading list. Many blessings to you and your family in the new year,

The garden game is just what I needed. I was perusing our seed catalog just this morning!

My son finds most female opinions to be too decided and extreme. Personally, Mr. Collins gives me the absolute creeps (notice my feminine use of the word absolute!). I think that may come more from the movie than from the book itself.

What a coincidence! My 11th grade son and I are currently in the middle of a 3 week "study" of Pride and Prejudice. I gave him the choice of Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice, and Ivanhoe. (Thinking for sure he'd choose either the first or last suggestions.) To my surprise, he wanted to read Pride and Prejudice, and has greatly enjoyed Austen's wry wit and over-the-top characters, often commenting how much Mrs Bennett or Mr Collins acted like various people we knew. I believe it is the years of exposure to good literature of all kinds that helped my son to understand that literature is not specifically "boy" or "girl", and can be enjoyed and understood by all thinking people. Of course, his older sister's interest in all-things-Jane-Austen probably helped to salt the oats a bit. ;-) She recently had "Austentatious Crochet" from the library, and I'll be sure to tell her about the Austen Knits magazine, as well.

My oldest son (11th grader) is also reading these books as a way of understanding the female mind ;-D he also reads quite a bit of contemporary fiction and so far, he is truly enjoying it and sharing quite a bit from his perspective.

The magazine...how delightful! My last purchase last year on December 31st no less, was a crochet book from the Jane Austen inspired books. I am truly looking forward to trying the patterns out.

Thanks so much for the list. I'm always looking for things to have my older boys read. I've never thought of Pride and Prejudice but with this "impressiveness" to young ladies I might just be able to convince them to pick it up! I planted and water the seeds in the garden ...much to my three year old's delight. She kept saying "Do It Again!" Tell Nigel thank you!

What a delightful post!! I tuck away many ideas for rainy days or for different seasons of my life...right now, I am most concerned about getting this baby birthed ;) and trying to keep hubby & other children fed! :-) I've done a WEE bit of crafting and reading lately, but not much. Soon enough, I suppose!! Thank you for sharing!

A nice taste of spring--thank you Karen (and Nigel). I just love when the catalogs begin to arrive in January. Its nice to dream of the spring garden while still hoping for a few good snowfalls before winter ends.

The knitting magazine sounds inspiring, as does the Peter Leithart book. Didn't he write the high school level Shakespeare study? It's also on my list for the children in a few years.

Your projects progress rapidly. I'm on my second mitten after 2 months. I guess they'll be ready for next winter.

My little guy (who just turned 12) enjoys watching the Jane Austen movies with us girls...perhaps when he is older he will tackle the books?!?What beautiful projects to work on...if only I knitted, I am a crocheter! I was just browsing through a seed catalog the other day and dreaming of what to plant this coming spring, so many choices!

Dear Karen,This post was delightful. Could you share where you find your kits? We have zero resources here and I would like to use quality fabrics and yarns. I am most interested in the stitching and rug hooking kits that you use. Thank you for any help!Jo

It is good to read that you daydream about projects, too, that you think highly of Jane Austen, and that Nigel's Magic Garden Game gave you or your children some minutes of mid-winter fun. He took pains to write the one thousand lines of code that it required to create it. The code part of "flash" is the most difficult he tells me.

Yankee Peddler is the designer of the kit I purchased titled "Have You Any Wool?" www.yankeepeddler.comI'm using a quilter's hoop to hold the burlap taunt.

Dear Karen,Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog. I enjoyed your post and my goodness is Nigel getting old! He looks alot like Dean, I think. Nigel is obviously one sharp young man, reading to understand a woman's perspective will serve him well when he marries:-) Oh, I do love that jacket too, even with puffy sleeves, but, I tend to like old-fashioned and classic styles and shun trendy. Lovely peeking into your wintry thoughts and activities.Fondly,Suzanne

I have a fun story related to your post. When hubby and I had a 'getting to know you' dinner with a new acquaintance, the discussion of the BBC version of Pride and Predjudice came up with the women. My husband said 'Oh we love that movie!" The other husband said "Oh, another man that loves Pride and Predjudice....we'll get along just fine!" We have ended up being the best of friends for the past three years.I always enjoy seeing your projects. Thank your for sharing, and tell Nigel that he certainly is dapper!

When we first saw the movie (BBC Jennifer Ehle), my husband was working at his desk that was situated behind the couch where I was seated. He had expressed strong doubt about the movie, preferring to work. He was typing away at his computer as the movie began. About 15 minutes into it, however, I realized that I was no longer hearing typing sounds. "Someone" was hanging over the back of the couch intently listening to every word!

(I never know the proper place to answer questions it seems, so I cover all the bases).

And as far as commenting on your sundries, you do have a gift for covering a range of topics, all good. I believe the maiden stirs my fancy to the utmost (sheep and all). I hope you will consider showing it when it is completed.